I have an ash bodied American Fat Strat that came with a Pearly Gates HB in the bridge. I hated it because it sounded too thin and too bright - too scooped for leads - not enough mids to fatten up the lead tone. I put in a Custom Custom. This was better and definitely answered the question of the missing mids. I like the CC for its full tone but the mids are too much and my biggest gripe is that is sounds very squashed and compressed. anyone else find the CC to sound squashed ? I play bluesy rock stuff into older tube amps without a ton of pedals. For leads, I want a full articulate sound but less squashed sounding than the CC. how does the JB compare to the CC in terms of how compressed they sound ?
Custom Custom vs JB or other recommendations?
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chill
New member
Re: Custom Custom vs JB or other recommendations?
The JB is a bit compressed. Can't compare it to the CC because I have not played a CC, but I do have a ceramic Custom, and the JB is a bit more compressed than that. I like the JB in an alder body/ maple board strat (I think I used 500K's but not 100% sure). Good HB tone for overdrive. Emphasis on the high mids which is good for leads, and the strat is trimmed enough in the low end that the low end stays fairly tight.
The JB is a bit compressed. Can't compare it to the CC because I have not played a CC, but I do have a ceramic Custom, and the JB is a bit more compressed than that. I like the JB in an alder body/ maple board strat (I think I used 500K's but not 100% sure). Good HB tone for overdrive. Emphasis on the high mids which is good for leads, and the strat is trimmed enough in the low end that the low end stays fairly tight.
theboatcandream
dreamonologist
Re: Custom Custom vs JB or other recommendations?
I think an alnico pro II would be good to try out. It's full sounding and it's lower output than the CC or JB. I'd say the Seth Lover but I think my seth lover is brighter than my friend's ap2. I like its sound with overdrive.
I think an alnico pro II would be good to try out. It's full sounding and it's lower output than the CC or JB. I'd say the Seth Lover but I think my seth lover is brighter than my friend's ap2. I like its sound with overdrive.
Robert Delahunt
Showmasterologist
Re: Custom Custom vs JB or other recommendations?
I thought the Custom series drawback (read: huge coils) was the compression. Oh well, anyways, I own a Custom Custom and a JB, but in different guitars. The JB definitely has mids, but not excessive mids. It's not scooped. It has tight bass and isn't too glassy (in my opinion). It is nice, and articulate. The CC will sound like it has spongy muddy bass compared to the JB.
I'm not the most experienced person on these, but I own a JB and a CC. My Ibanez (soft maple body) had a JB in it, but maple + the JB's high mids made it sound like an ice pick. The Custom Custom warmed it up without being an ice pick, but I lost my tight bass.
That's my story, for what it's worth. Hope that helps ya.
I thought the Custom series drawback (read: huge coils) was the compression. Oh well, anyways, I own a Custom Custom and a JB, but in different guitars. The JB definitely has mids, but not excessive mids. It's not scooped. It has tight bass and isn't too glassy (in my opinion). It is nice, and articulate. The CC will sound like it has spongy muddy bass compared to the JB.
I'm not the most experienced person on these, but I own a JB and a CC. My Ibanez (soft maple body) had a JB in it, but maple + the JB's high mids made it sound like an ice pick. The Custom Custom warmed it up without being an ice pick, but I lost my tight bass.
That's my story, for what it's worth. Hope that helps ya.
Re: Custom Custom vs JB or other recommendations?
definitely appreciate the feedback. I think I may end up trying the JB even if it is compressed. everyone seems to agree on the JB for great lead tone and I have a 1982 Epiphone Spirit that has a mahoghany body I can try the JB in if I find I dont like the JB in the ash body Strat. Also may try the Alnico II like theboatcandream suggested. output-wise the Alnico II is a better match for the Texas Specials in the Strat and the Harmony Designs Z-90 in the Epi Spirit neck pups anway - eventhough I never play in the 2 and 4 positions on the Strat and so the bridge pup overpowering the neck pup isnt a concern on the Strat. from the comments, sound like it would be a good idea anyway to test different pups in different guitars and listen for something that sounds best for my tastes thanks for the replies !
definitely appreciate the feedback. I think I may end up trying the JB even if it is compressed. everyone seems to agree on the JB for great lead tone and I have a 1982 Epiphone Spirit that has a mahoghany body I can try the JB in if I find I dont like the JB in the ash body Strat. Also may try the Alnico II like theboatcandream suggested. output-wise the Alnico II is a better match for the Texas Specials in the Strat and the Harmony Designs Z-90 in the Epi Spirit neck pups anway - eventhough I never play in the 2 and 4 positions on the Strat and so the bridge pup overpowering the neck pup isnt a concern on the Strat. from the comments, sound like it would be a good idea anyway to test different pups in different guitars and listen for something that sounds best for my tastes thanks for the replies !
theboatcandream
dreamonologist
Re: Custom Custom vs JB or other recommendations?
Just so you know.... the JB is used by Tool. The alnico pro 2 is Slash. :-D
Just so you know.... the JB is used by Tool. The alnico pro 2 is Slash. :-D
fenderiarhs
New member
Re: Custom Custom vs JB or other recommendations?
The CC and the JB are my final choices out of the duncan range......I find them to be in opposite places of the sound spectrum and the only thing that both pickups share is their ability to cut very well through the mix.....
The JB has more bass than the CC, but completely (well almost) lacks the rich content of the CC in the low mids department) and the whole frequency responce seems like it is placed towards the treble/hi mids freqs. It also is much clearer and transparent than the CC. That high mid spike can make it annoying sometimes......i also like the sound of it splitted in the 2 pos. of a strat.
The CC is very very warm. Many complain that it is weak in the bass department (i used to complain about it too) but since it has very good low mids and a much sweeter treble than the JB it does sound bassier. The huge amount of mids can warm any guitar but not everybody will like them. What i do not like is that while it is warm it is very dense sounding and not so clear.
The CC and the JB are my final choices out of the duncan range......I find them to be in opposite places of the sound spectrum and the only thing that both pickups share is their ability to cut very well through the mix.....
The JB has more bass than the CC, but completely (well almost) lacks the rich content of the CC in the low mids department) and the whole frequency responce seems like it is placed towards the treble/hi mids freqs. It also is much clearer and transparent than the CC. That high mid spike can make it annoying sometimes......i also like the sound of it splitted in the 2 pos. of a strat.
The CC is very very warm. Many complain that it is weak in the bass department (i used to complain about it too) but since it has very good low mids and a much sweeter treble than the JB it does sound bassier. The huge amount of mids can warm any guitar but not everybody will like them. What i do not like is that while it is warm it is very dense sounding and not so clear.
theboatcandream
dreamonologist
Re: Custom Custom vs JB or other recommendations?
Clarity and bass are overrated anyway.
Clarity and bass are overrated anyway.
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Re: Custom Custom vs JB or other recommendations?
Ash is allways hi on top and low.You need somethin with lots of mids and normal highs and lows.JB and Distortion is out of the line anyways.
I would say try the PATB-1.It's a great allrounder,very nice harmonics ,very good tone control...PATB-3 will do it too as benjy say!But i prefer the 1 for ASH!The Midrange will give it what you need ,the highs and lows are just right.And the sound is really full and esciting!The Harmonics are awesome ,and the output is between moderate and hot!Try it out man ,let the Parallel Axis design excite you!
Cheers!
Ash is allways hi on top and low.You need somethin with lots of mids and normal highs and lows.JB and Distortion is out of the line anyways.
I would say try the PATB-1.It's a great allrounder,very nice harmonics ,very good tone control...PATB-3 will do it too as benjy say!But i prefer the 1 for ASH!The Midrange will give it what you need ,the highs and lows are just right.And the sound is really full and esciting!The Harmonics are awesome ,and the output is between moderate and hot!Try it out man ,let the Parallel Axis design excite you!
Cheers!
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